1853/2 Liberty Round 50 Cent Gold MS-63 NGC (BG-409)

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During the mid-nineteenth century, California became a hotbed of private gold coinage. Among these fascinating relics is the 1853/2 Liberty Round 50 Cent piece, a tiny gold coin containing approximately 0.0242 troy ounces of gold. This specific variety is documented in the standard reference literature on California Fractional Gold under the catalog number BG-409, and it has been preserved in an exceptional certified state of Mint State 63. The obverse of this piece displays a classic depiction of Liberty, encircled by stars, with the letters D.N. positioned directly below her portrait. On the reverse, a delicate wreath tied with a large bow frames the date. A close examination of this wreath reveals ten berries on each branch, arranged in pairs except for those at the very top and bottom, with each branch ending in a cluster of three berries. What makes this coin particularly compelling to researchers is its overdate. Under magnification, the middle stroke of a 2 is visible, stretching from the central curve to the lower loop of the final digit 3 in the 1853 date, offering a physical record of a mid-nineteenth-century die modification.